We expect immediate action from Brussels regarding the German natural gas storage levy!

In January 2024, Germany increased its special natural gas storage levy by three times its original level. Fidesz MEP András Gyürk has underlined with regard to this development: “This step undermines the competitiveness of Central European countries and clearly goes against the spirit of EU legislation and the principle of energy solidarity. Therefore, following a similar initiative by the V4 countries and Austria, we have sent questions to the European Commission requiring an immediate answer.”

In 2024, Germany raised its special tax on natural gas transportation to an unprecedented level, amounting to almost 10% of the current wholesale market price. “This is an unfriendly step towards Central Europe, which makes the energy supply of the countries in the region more expensive, undermines their competitiveness and makes it difficult for them to diversify their natural gas supply. This is unacceptable and goes against EU legislation. That’s why we turned to the European Commission with questions that require an immediate answer,” stated the Fidesz MEP.

“On the one hand, we are waiting to see what concrete steps the Commission plans to take against the special taxes that undermine the European energy market. In addition, we are waiting for information from Brussels on whether it plans to initiate infringement proceedings in such cases. In order to mitigate the ongoing policy of double standard, the latter would be important,” the Hungarian MEP pointed out.

Security and diversification of the energy supply are essential conditions for economic competitiveness and protecting the population from high energy prices. “Brussels should take action against measures that threaten energy security and make energy supply more expensive, instead of persistently attacking policies that take people’s interests into account, such as the Hungarian utility cost reduction scheme” said MEP András Gyürk.